BEVERLY-MT. GREENWOOD, IL — Don’t sit alone in your house watching Anderson Cooper on New Year’s Eve. There are plenty of parties, shows and family events planned in Chicago’s south suburbs to help you ring in 2025.
Join WGN’s Mike Toomey for a hilarious evening at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, starting at 6 p.m. Known for his quick wit and unforgettable impressions, Mike brings a unique comedy experience that’s perfect for all. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate with Chicago’s favorite comic. Tickets are $50. Reserve online.
Bring the kids, older relatives, or just yourselves and PARTY LIKE THE IRISH on New Year’s Eve! Horse Thief Hollow Brewery, 10426 S. Western Ave., Chicago, will be celebrating early with a family-friendly Irish New Year’s Eve at from 4 to 9 p.m. that features an Irish-themed menu, live Celtic music from Far Too Close and a bubbly toast at 6 p.m. – midnight in Ireland. NO COVER! Call 773-779-BREW for reservations. Happy New Year!
Here is a look at other New Year’s Eve (or New Year’s weekend) events happening around the Oak Lawn area:
December 28
New Year’s Eve Bingo Special
Park Lawn
10833 S. LaPorte Ave., Oak Lawn
Saturday, Dec. 28
Card sales start 4 p.m., games start 6 p.m.
Bring your daubers and start off 2024 by winning some money. Park Lawn will host New Year’s Eve Eve bingo, featuring $500 games and three $1,000 games at Park Lawn. Must be 18 or older to play.
LMMFO Comedy Show
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
9030 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago
Saturday, Dec. 28
Get ready to laugh your ass off at LMMFAO COMEDY NIGHT, where hilarious comedians will have you rolling on the floor with laughter from 7 p.m. to 11:30. Admission $20. Tickets available on EventBrite.
December 30
Noon Year’s Eve Eve Countdown
Evergreen Park Public Library
9400 S. Troy Ave., Evergreen Park
11 a.m. to noon Monday, Dec. 30
Party like it’s the day before New Year’s Eve, featuring stories, snacks, noise makers, dancing and a countdown at noon for kids up to grade 5. Feel free to wear your party clothes. Registration required.
December 31
Noon Year’s Eve Countdown
Palos Heights Recreation Dept.
6601 W. 127th St., Palos Heights
10 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Dec. 31
Instead of midnight, kids 10 and under can count down the time to 12 noon. The rec center will transform the gym into a mini Times Square, complete with music and a “countdown to noon” balloon drop. This is a popular event, so register now. The cost is $14 per child (residents) and $17 per child (non-resident). Registration is required.
Mike Toomey @ Beverly Arts Center
2407 W. 111th St., Chicago
Join WGN’s Mike Toomey for a hilarious evening at the Beverly Arts Center starting at 6 p.m. Known for his quick wit and unforgettable impressions, Mike brings a unique comedy experience that’s perfect for all. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate with Chicago’s favorite comic. Tickets are $50. Reserve online.
Horse Thief Hollow Brewery
10426 S. Western Ave.
Chicago
Bring the kids, older relatives, or just yourselves and PARTY LIKE THE IRISH on New Year’s Eve! Horse Thief Hollow will be celebrating early with a family-friendly Irish New Year’s Eve at from 4 to 9 p.m. that features an Irish-themed menu, live Celtic music from Far Too Close and a bubbly toast at 6 p.m. – midnight in Ireland. NO COVER! Call 773-779-BREW for reservations. Happy New Year!
Blue Island Ball Drop and Fireworks
In front of the Lyric, 10952 S. Western Ave.
11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Ring in the new year in Blue Island with the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and fireworks in front of The Lyric Theatre. Get there early and enjoy music starting at 11:30 p.m.
Thirsty Beaver
5599 W. 127th St, Crestwood
Groove to Dance Monkey playing 70s, 80s, 90s and current hits starting 9 p.m.
115 Bourbon Street
3359 W. 111th St., Merrionette Park
9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31 to Jan. 1; doors open at 8:30 p.m.
Come celebrate the arrival of the new year in 115 Bourbon Street’s three massive party rooms. Dance the night away to the beats of talented DJs, indulge in delicious food and drinks, and create some memories that will last a lifetime. Tickets are $85 and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on New Year’s Eve for $100. Included is a dinner buffet and breakfast buffet, and drink (except for premium liquor). Email info@115bourbonstreet.com or call 708-388-8881.
Pat Tomasulo NYE Comedy Showcase
European Chalet Banquets
5545 S. Harlem Ave., Chicago
WGN TV morning host, comedian and podcaster Pat Tomasulo returns to European Chalet Banquets in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood to perform his hilarious standup act at. The evening features dinner and a premium OPEN bar, starting with a VIP meet and greet with cocktails and appetizers from 5:30 to 7 p.m.; cocktails and dinner from 7 to 8 p.m.; with the comedy show and more cocktails from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Tomasulo will dispense parenting advice despite not having children himself. Tickets are $150 for cocktails, dinner and show; $200 for the VIP meet and greet, appetizers, cocktails, dinner and the show. Buy tickets on EventBrite.
Haunted Trails Family Entertainment Center
7759 S Harlem Ave, Burbank
Noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31
Ring in 2024 at Haunted Trails in Burbank with our New Year’s Eve Fun deal available December 31 only. Enjoy $35 in Game Play, 2 Laser Frenzy Challenges, plus a Mini 7” One-Topping Pizza and Large Soft Drink for only $41.95/guest.
No Reservation Required. Charmin’ Charley’s Restaurant closes 1 hour before the game room. Adult beverages are available for purchase for those 21 and over with valid ID.
Clancy’s 95th Irish Tavern
5763 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn
5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
The premiere Irish pub will have an Irish New Year’s Eve toast at 6 p.m. Enjoy authentic Irish music with the Ceol Bros. playing from 4 to 8 p.m.; BobKat Mutt acoustic, 9 p.m., midnight toast.
Clancy’s Pizza Pub
4624 W. 103rd St., Oak Lawn
(Jewel-anchored shopping center)
Stop by for an Irish New Year’s toast at 6 p.m. Richie Z plays 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., midnight toast.
Reilly’s Daughter
4010 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn
Ring in Irish New Year with St. Stephen’s Green starting at 3:30 p.m., with a celebratory toast to the Emerald Isle at 6 p.m. Be the first brunette to walk through the door after 6 p.m. and have good luck in 2025. The bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
9030 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago
Wine Blending Class and NYE Party
Bring in the New Year around the fire pit and toast the old year past and the new year to come. Enjoy some South Side treats from local food trucks. Wild Blossom starts the celebration with a Wine Blending Class, time tbd. Experience the art of wine blending with a hands-on session led by expert sommeliers. Discover unique flavor profiles and create your own signature blend. Each person will bottle, cork, seal and label one bottle of their blend to take home that evening. Wines can be consumed young or aged to preserve the memory of 2024. Afterward, blending students will be able to paint a wine glass for a great memory of the event every time they have a glass of wine. The wine blending class is $50.
For New Year’s Eve, gather around an outdoor fire pit for music, a Sparkling Mead Champagne Toast and bring in the new amazing year of 2025 starting at 6 p.m. Wild Blossom will also be releasing its new non-alcoholic, hemp-infused drinks and other non-alcoholic choices that guarantee no New Year’s Day hangovers. The party is free.
The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.
The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year, which was in mid-March when they planted their crops.
According to legend, if people kept their word, the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. However, if they broke their promises, they would lose favor with the gods.
Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves.
The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are many reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight, for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition.
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